MOSCOW, April 9. /TASS/. Systematic efforts to enhance Russia’s defense potential are a pre-requisite of calm life and Russia’s sovereign development, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with newly-promoted senior officers in the Kremlin on Thursday.

"Our defense efforts and measures to increase the defense potential will proceed systematically and consistently. All of us are aware that this is a major factor for Russia’s sovereign development and a pre-requisite for peaceful and calm life of millions of our citizens," Putin said, adding that law enforcement agencies played a crucial role in resistance to modern threats and to maintaining the country’s internal security.

He also said that Russia would "continue strenghtening its security" and cooperating with "states seeking peace, stability and development" amid the growing conflict potential in the regions that are of strategic importance for Russia.

Putin said that a number of countries were transforming their policy towards aggressive actions. "As a result, threats emerge that we cannot ignore," he added.

State defense order fulfilment running ahead of schedule

The president said the national armed forces’ supply with new weapons and equipment has considerably improved. According to Putin, the state defense order fulfilment tempos have been surpassing the targets indicators.

"In recent years we have been modernizing the Armed Forces, making them modern, mobile, capable of accomplishing most difficult missions," the president said at a ceremony of presentation of top officers in the Kremlin. According to him, "last year, the aerospace defense system was improved, a powerful military grouping in Crimea was created, the Artic security zone was strengthened and the level of supply of the Armed Forces with new weapons and equipment improved considerably."

"The state defense order fulfilment is gaining momentum - in 2014 it exceeded the target indicators," Putin said, adding that Russia currently is actively conducing combat training of troops.

Russian security service detains 120 gunmen in 2015

Putin noted that officers of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia have prevented a number of terrorism crimes - detaining more than 120 members of gangs, neutralising 20 bandits, including three ringleaders, since the start of the year.

"I hope that you will continue this successful work also in other spheres. First of all, in counterintelligence activity, ensuring economic security, combating corruption, embezzlement and misuse of budget funds," Putin said, adding that he was certain that the FSB Border Guard Service would continue to reliably protect the Russian frontiers from terrorists, smugglers and illegal migrants.

Putin voiced certainty that police officers would not only strengthen public order, but also go ahead with systematic struggle against crime and corruption.

"The Interior Ministry’s troops, as before, will be making a tangible contribution to anti-terrorist operations and the protection of Russia’s territorial integrity and constitutional system," Putin said, adding that extremism-related crimes should remain in the focus of the Interior Ministry’s special attention.

"And, of course, tighter security measures must be taken during mass festivities timed for the 70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany," Putin said.